ECOWAS backs Ouattara

from the right, Presidents Adulahi Wade of Senegal, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, John Attah Mills of Ghana and Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso during an emergency ECOWAS Summit of Cote D’voire

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday in Abuja resolved to formally recognise Alassane Dramane Ouattara as President-elect of Cote d’Ivoire.

Consequently, the regional body advised the erstwhile President, Laurent Gbagbo, to respect the sovereign wish of his people and abide by the result of the second round of Presidential elections as certified by United Nations Operations in Cote d’Ivoire and yield power without delay in the best interest of the Ivorien people.

In a statement after the meeting, which was summoned by President Goodluck Jonathan, the regional group said, “In order to protect the legitimacy of the electoral process, the Summit endorsed the results declared by the Independent Electoral Commission and certified by the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in the Cote d’Ivoire in accordance with Resolution 1765 of the United Nations Security Council, dated 16 July 2007.”

It added that, “In this regard, the Heads of State and Government recognised Mr Alassane Dramane Ouattara as President-elect of Cote d’Ivoire, and consequently, representative of the freely expressed voice of the Ivorien people.”

Decisive action

During the meeting, members reaffirmed their commitment to the relevant provisions and principles of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and condemned in strong terms the attempt to go against the will of the Ivorien people as freely expressed on November 28, 2010.

As part of its resolutions, the meeting applied the provisions of Article 45 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance relating to the imposition of sanctions and suspended Cote d’Ivoire from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until further notice.

International community commended

While commending the role of the United Nations Operations in Cote d’Ivoire in the conduct of the elections under democratically acceptable conditions, the group expressed appreciation to the international community for ensuring a rapid and definitive resolution of the crisis. It also urged the Ivorien people, particularly political and administrative bodies, to respect the rights and integrity of the people, including those of the nationals of ECOWAS member states as well as all foreigners within their territory by guaranteeing peace and security.

The Heads of Government at the meeting however did not say what action will be taken should Mr Gbagbo refuse to heed their call for him to quit power.

Two presidents

Last Sunday, Mr Gbagbo, who has the support of the military, was sworn in at the official residence of the President. Hours after, Mr Ouattara was inaugurated in a brief ceremony in a hotel, guarded by United Nations troops in Abidjan.

In his inaugural message, Mr Ouattara urged all Ivoriens to remain calm and refrain from any form of violence or intimidation and maintain the confidence reposed in him and his team. He announced that the former Premier, Guillaume Soro, has been re-named to the post.

In addition to the backing of regional leaders, Mr Ouattara has the support of the UN, the European Union, and the United States of America.

The meeting was presided over by Mr Jonathan and attended by Blaise Compaore (Burkina Faso), Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Liberia); Amodou Toure (Mali); Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal) and Faure Gnassingbe (Togo). The Ambassador of Cape Verde in Senegal, Francisco da Veiga represented his president; the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Goude Adadja, represented the President of Benin Republic; the Minister of Fisheries and National Assembly Matter, Lamin Bajo, attended in place of The Gambia’s president; while the High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Henry Macauley, represented his country’s president at the meeting.

The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Cote d’Ivoire and representative of the president of the African Union Commission (AU), Mahama Ouedraogo, attended as observers.

Source:/234next.com